Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14875
copiedCharacterizing the diet of Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus across its spatial range: a metadata analysis spanning over three decades
- John M. Logan
- Christopher M. Butler
- Leanne Fuller
- Michelle D. Staudinger
- Eric R. Hoffmayer
- David Hanisko
- Jose Luis Varela
- Antonio Medina
- Jose Miguel de la Serna
- Dolores Godoy
- David Macias
- Walt Golet
- Brad Chase
- Brian R. MacKenzie
- Droplaug Olafsdottir
- Samantha Nadeau
- Enrique Rodriguez-Marin
ABSTRACT: Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (ABFT) is a highly migratory predator that feeds across diverse foraging habitats throughout its range. ABFT diet has been characterized regionally, but a broader analysis is needed to help inform ecosystem-based management of this economically and ecologically important predator, given its environmental and spatial plasticity. We conducted a metadata analysis using assembled diet data from 1985-2020 (n=4,997 total; 4,046 non-empty stomachs) for ABFT (6-328 cm straight fork length; SFL) from nine Longhurst provinces (LPs). ABFT trophic ecology was characterized by exploring relationships between (1) diet composition (using classification trees), (2) total stomach contents weight (using generalized additive models), and (3) predator-prey size (using ordinary least squares and quantile regression) and spatial, temporal, biological, and environmental variables. Diet composition primarily differed by sampling year, LP, and ABFT SFL. Diet in the Northwest Atlantic shelf was distinct due to the prevalence of Clupeidae. Temporal splits in this region were based on consumption of Ammodytidae and Ommastrephidae in the earliest and latest years of our dataset, respectively. Diet composition for the other LPs primarily differed based on SFL with smaller ABFT (< 79 cm) mainly consuming engraulids and larger ABFT (>79 cm)) consuming ommastrephids and paralepidids. Total stomach contents weight and prey length increased asymptotically with ABFT SFL and varied in relation to environmental, sampling, and spatial variables. Quantifying diet composition by space and ontogeny is useful for developing improved food web models to better understand ecosystem effects of fisheries. Our metadata analysis also highlights future research priorities.
KEYWORDS
John Logan (Corresponding Author)
john.logan@mass.gov, john.logan@state.ma.us
Christopher Butler (Co-author)
- >Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, P.O. Box 570, Nuuk 3900, Greenland; National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 12 Kemitorvet, Building 202, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
Leanne Fuller (Co-author)
- Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1509, USA
Michelle Staudinger (Co-author)
- School of Marine Sciences, Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, 193 Clark’s Cove Road, Walpole, ME 04573, USA
Eric Hoffmayer (Co-author)
- Population & Ecosystem Monitoring Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 3209 Frederic St., Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA
David Hanisko (Co-author)
- Population & Ecosystem Monitoring Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 3209 Frederic St., Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA
Jose Varela (Co-author)
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Antonio Medina (Co-author)
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Jose de la Serna (Co-author)
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Puerto pesquero s/n Fuengirola, Málaga 29640, Spain
Dolores Godoy (Co-author)
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Puerto pesquero s/n Fuengirola, Málaga 29640, Spain
David Macias (Co-author)
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Puerto pesquero s/n Fuengirola, Málaga 29640, Spain
Walt Golet (Co-author)
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA; Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Brad Chase (Co-author)
- >Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Erzene Mah., Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey
Brian MacKenzie (Co-author)
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 12 Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
Droplaug Olafsdottir (Co-author)
- Marine Resources Section, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Reykjavik, IS-220, Iceland; Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Biodiversity Working Group of the Arctic Council, Borgir, Nordurslod, Akureyri 600, Iceland
Samantha Nadeau (Co-author)
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA; Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Enrique Rodriguez-Marin (Co-author)
enrique.rmarin@ieo.csic.es
Handling Editor:
Alistair Hobday, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Reviewers:
J. Walter and 2 anonymous referees